China’s open for business again.
Archive for January, 2023|Monthly archive page
Rabbit depictions around East Asia
In China, Holidays and Festivals on 28/01/2023 at 4:13 pm
“Its red eyes, blue body, strange smile, spiked feet, and oddly humanoid hands have sparked a fierce backlash, Some have called it “pure evil”.
Sixth Tone, a Chinese news site, has about the stamps.
Trust Xi to screw up. Other three rabbits are OK.
Other Lion Cities
In Indonesia on 27/01/2023 at 1:35 pmNotice they are largely in the Indonesian archipelago: the Hindu influence.
Telsa no longer defies gravity
In Uncategorized on 26/01/2023 at 5:30 pmIt reported revenues of US$24.3bn for the December quarter, up 37 per cent from last year, which was a record.
But its market valuation of about $450bn remains well below its $1.2tn peak in 2021
High Tech: the new value stocks
In Financial competency on 23/01/2023 at 5:29 am
Microsoft, Amazon and Meta are among the five largest weights in the S&P 500 Value index, alongside the likes of Cisco Systems, Salesforce, Netflix, IBM, Intel and PayPal.
Not all of them are classified under IT. Some are under Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary.
CNY tot
In Energy, Financial competency on 22/01/2023 at 6:34 amInvesting ain’t easy
When everybody is digging for gold, it’s good to be in the pick and shovel business.
Attributed to various famous people
Ain’t that easy. There’s a rush to invest in hydrogen related activities because of its green energy credentials.
But investors in this maker of electrolysers that separate hydrogen from water have lost $. It’s no start-up (founded in 2001) and it has strong backers: German industrial gas group Linde and British construction equipment manufacturer JCB
ITM Power has issued a third profit warning in eight months maker of electrolysers that separate hydrogen from water
Temasek trying very hard to make our reserves go further?
In Financial competency, S'pore Inc, Temasek on 19/01/2023 at 8:32 amOr there are some FT financial engineers there trying very hard to show the private equity funds that they should employ them as financial engineering specialists who know how to borrow up to hairline.
We are in a sweet spot cont’d
In Economy, Indonesia, Malaysia on 18/01/2023 at 8:46 amFour berths in Tuas Mega Port, have been completed. They are the first of 21 due by 2027. When it is completed in 2040, the complex will be the largest container port on Earth, boasts PSA International.
The IMF expects the region’s five largest economies—Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand—to be the fastest-growing bloc in the world by trade volumes between 2022 and 2027.
https://www.economist.com/interactive/business/2023/01/14/investments-in-ports-foretell-the-future-of-global-commerce
Feeling bullish? Here’s some supporting data
In Financial competency on 17/01/2023 at 4:45 amSince its inception in 1957, there have only been two occasions in which the S&P 500 fell for two (or more) consecutive years. The index posted back-to-back declines in 1973 and 1974, and it fell for three consecutive years between 2000 and 2002.
The former is particularly noteworthy because inflation started trending upward in early 1973, and it peaked at 12.2% in November 1974. The S&P 500 then mounted a recovery in 1975. Something similar has played out over the past two years. Inflation began rising in early 2021, and it peaked at 9.1% in June 2022. That trend, assuming it continues, could trigger a bull market rally in 2023.
https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/01/15/sp-500-had-worst-year-in-history-what-happens-next/
Spin the wheel, roll the dice: “Them’s the breaks”.
We are in a sweet sport because of our Asean neighbours
In China, India, Indonesia on 16/01/2023 at 5:39 am
And by 2050 Indonesia will be the world’s fourth-largest economy, projects Goldman Sachs.
HDB “subsidy” assertions continue
In Media, Property, Public Administration on 16/01/2023 at 5:32 amMore assertions on the “subsidy” issue
Former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard commented that if you treat voters as sophisticated, they will return the favour. Our millionaire ministers obviously don’t believe this.
They obviously believe thar if they repeat assertions often enough the assertions become the truth, especially if the constructive, nation-building media support the assertions. But they should should remember that the most important component in the constructive, nation-building media has been caught with its pants down. It has admitted lying about its circulation figures after a not constructive, nation-building publication raised issues about the matter.
The SPH media team is now trying very hard to limit the damage.
t
Oil prices: Wishful thinking by the US energy agency?
In Energy on 14/01/2023 at 7:55 am
Most probably one of these guesses will be wrong.
My guess is that if demand increases (think China) prices will be around US$100. One reason why I’m holding onto my SembCorp Marine shares: Tempting fate but thanks again Ho Ching
Why is the US of A the Hegemon
In Uncategorized on 13/01/2023 at 1:51 pmThe legislators are Christians.
Almost 88% of the members of the 118th session of Congress say they are Christian, but only 64% of Americans identify as Christian.
Economist
Elon breaks record
In Uncategorized on 12/01/2023 at 2:39 pmFrom November 2021 to December 2022 he lost around US$165bn, reports the Guinness World Records (https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/94151-largest-loss-of-personal-fortune)
The figures are based on data from Forbes, but Guinness said other sources suggested Mr Musk’s losses could have been higher.
Three cheers for our millionaire education ministers
In Public Administration on 11/01/2023 at 1:23 pmThey really give options for late bloomers.
A FB friend whose son is going to ITE posted this comment
got so many tiers now
1. PFP – Direct go Poly
2. DPP – 2 year ITE higher nitec with secured Poly spot
3. JAE – 3 year ITE higher nitec with academic results
4. EAE – Early Secured 3 year ITE with portfolio
5. JAE – 2 year NITEC
6. Take O lvl at Sec 5 – some have academically improved and will be able to jump the huge gap in 1 year. Some are forced by parents whose mindset refuse to accpet any alternative education route. Some have failed their poly foundation year and thrown back to sec 5.
FB comment
What Dr Goh Keng Swee wanted is coming to fruition. Thanks to Tharman and the other millionaire PAP ministers who came after Tharman
Buffett sayings
In Financial competency, Financial planning on 10/01/2023 at 3:50 pm
A now ex-Tai Tai (she now poor) because she disagreed with these tenets. She can conduct a masterclass on how to to marry an elderly ATM machine and end up poor. How tai tai got poor: Tai tai forgot this amd Tai tai keeps losing money
S’pore and other Asian countries that are waiting to welcome Chinese tourists
In China, Economy, Japan, Malaysia, Tourism, Vietnam on 09/01/2023 at 3:10 amFor a little red speck we are punching above our weight in getting Chinese tourists. Must be the casinos (Cambodia too)
Housing: Voice of the People in 2022
In Economy, Political governance, Property, Public Administration on 05/01/2023 at 3:51 am
But the voters should thank the millionaire ministers and the (th Immortal?
Because
Property is crashing everywhere, except in Singapore. The Asian city-state’s private residential prices are up 14% year-on-year, according to third-quarter data from Knight Frank. That’s a sharp contrast to major cities like Hong Kong and Sydney, which saw decreases of 7% and 4% respectively over the same period.
…
The city-state boasts a home ownership rate of nearly 90% as of 2021, thanks to the government’s public housing policies. With average annual real wages growing almost 20% since 2017 and total employment expanding, many households are now looking to upgrade to private residences. Yet due to Covid-19 disruptions, net new housing has fallen below the 10-year average. As of the third quarter, 78% of planned private residential units were under construction, down from 90% in the same quarter in 2021, according to the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/singapore-withstands-global-property-downturn-2023-01-03/
Can the millionaire PAP ministers hear the people crying?: Voice of the People in June 2022
In Economy, Political governance, Public Administration on 04/01/2023 at 4:19 amYes they heard the voters’ concerns about inflation
But the 9th Immortal hardened the hearts of the millionaire PAP ministers (Remember that they are probably part of the 1% who felt “No impact all all” about inflation): GST went up 1%age point on 1 January. To be fair to these millionaire ministers, they shelled out a few more peanuts.
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of the people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes
Why PM-in-waiting should be worried
In Economy, Political governance, Public Administration on 03/01/2023 at 5:05 amIn June 2022 around the time the new Dauphin was anointed this came out:
Only 63% felt positive about him and of that most (45%age points felt “Quite positive”. 19% “Don’t know/ No Opinion”. Wonder what are the %ages now?
Well he’s not done much about the “Cost of living” or “Inflation/ Price rises” except throw a few peanuts our way. So the 45% of “Quite positive” were right to be sceptical.
Digital S$
In Uncategorized on 02/01/2023 at 8:18 am
Santa morphs into Tai Shen
In Uncategorized on 01/01/2023 at 4:22 amMay the 2023 recession be shallow and short.
But don’t count on the traditional Chinese New Year rally. Santa, in a break of tradition, didn’t visit Wall St. There was no Santa rally. No resents for the traders.
Thoughts of a Cynical Investor 